The Meaning of FR

Posted by Anthony Webb on Dec 4th 2024

OK, you are probably searching online for the meaning "FR" right now, trying to figure out what it stands for. In your search, you will likely find that "Fr" is the written abbreviation for the word "French." And "Father," as in a Catholic priest. It is the acronym for "francium" in chemistry circles and the internet domain for "France."

Speaking of the internet and, more specifically, internet slang, "FR" means "For Real."

And if you work in the electric power industry, metal fabrication, welding, or oil and gas industry, you better know "FR" is definitely "for real" when it comes to flame protection from fire hazards. Workers in these jobs face the following fire dangers:

Electric Arc Flashes
Combustible Dust
Flammable Chemicals and Liquids
Flash Fires
Molten Ferrous Metals
Open Flames
Hot Work Processes

These workplace hazards, and others, have the potential to ignite clothing, causing burn injury and potential loss of life.

In MCR Safety country, "FR" stands for "flame-resistant," meaning " a retarding force" – and FR is used to describe personal protective equipment that guards workers against fire and flames. In 2019, we released a new technology in flame-resistant protection called Summit Breeze® Technology. Below, we highlight it and a ton more FR PPE. "For real," we're about to get you protected from the flames...

OSHA Standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has detailed specific requirements for flame-resistant clothing. Companies that do not comply with the OSHA standards face fines and potential closure of non-compliant facilities. As a result, using protective FR clothing on the job is the law, not a choice. The primary clause used to address all workplace hazards is the General Duty Clause, which requires employers to furnish a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards. Concerning flame protection, OSHA's 29 CFR1910.269 comes into play.

What is OSHA 1910.269? Often referred to as "269," this standard outlines the operation and maintenance requirements for electric power generation, control, transformation, transmission and distribution lines, and equipment. The Final Rule, announced on April 1, 2014, enacted significant changes to the requirements for protecting employees from electric arcs by mandating flame-resistant clothing (FRC) be used as PPE. This "269" standard accomplishes two important things:

It mandates that all workers be educated in the possible hazards of electric arcs and the flames they can produce, and it
Forbids workers from wearing apparel that can ignite and cause significant damage in the presence of an arc or flame. Ultimately, it means workers can't wear clothing materials made of synthetic materials such as acetate, nylon, polyester, or rayon.

In addition to the "269" standard, OSHA's 1910.132 ruling requires employers to provide PPE, which includes flame-resistant protection, for protecting the body from hazards and at no cost to employees. OSHA 1910.32 guarantees that personal protective equipment is "provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition whenever it is necessary…" to prevent injury.

Wearing FR Clothing is the law, not a choice if flame and fire hazards affect a worker's safety.

For more on OSHA and the above standards, check out our dedicated FR OSHA page.

Online eTool Resource

What is mind-bending is that many of the severe workplace accidents investigated by OSHA could have been prevented by workers using proper PPE. This is one reason OSHA puts out numerous publications, resources, and guidance on FR clothing.

As part of OSHA's informational online resource, Work Hazards and Safety Practices in the Electric Power Industry, the organization maintains a free eTool dedicated to FR clothing. Electric power industry workers will find detailed descriptions of serious safety hazards such as:

Electric Arcs - arc blasts or flash hazards
Hot Gases
Explosion Pressure Waves
Shrapnel

Wherever electricity exists, linemen and other electrical workers will need to be wearing FR clothing.

FR clothing and the "269" standard mentioned above are explained in further detail on OSHA's FR eTool. There, you will also find an explanation for selecting appropriate FR clothing, including the amount of heat required to ignite certain types of materials based on weight, texture, weave, and color.

Workers can also review in-depth information on FR clothing's uses, factors affecting heat exposure, and much more.

FR Clothes Knowledge Center

In addition to OSHA's eTool, you can find everything you need to know about FR gear in MCR Safety's FR Knowledge Center, including technical FR information such as the types of FR fabrics and FR standards, laundering tips, and more.

Check out all the FR topics we highlight on our FR Knowledge Center!

MCR Safety's FR Knowledge Center is a library of valuable information specific to flame-resistant (FR) clothing. As you're probably aware, FR clothing has many technical elements that turn it into a problematic product for many. That is why we created this online resource. We cover everything users need to know to make an informed purchase. From laundering to sizing, we've got the information you require!

You've probably heard the saying, "Knowing is half the battle." When it pertains to FR, this is 100% true. Knowledge is the starting point of almost any undertaking in life. The next step, though, and just as important, is action. Workers need to protect themselves with PPE designed to help mitigate injuries ranging from minor to severe burns or even death. That is coming up in our next section!

MCR Safety's FR Clothing

All the garments sold under MCR Safety's FR clothing lineup have one thing in common: flame-resistant protection. What's most important to wearers of flame-resistant clothing (FRC) is that the product performs when needed. With that in mind, MCR Safety's Summit Breeze® inherent blended styles outperformed the minimum 50% required performance NPA2112 rating by 84%. Our inherent blended coveralls were recently tested with only an 8% body burn score. So, for those who want FR protection that performs, we've got you covered!

Also, comfort always plays an important part, as workers have to wear their PPE all day. PPE that is uncomfortable or ill-fitting is likely to be taken off more quickly and possibly result in increased opportunity for injury. MCR Safety's FR clothing styles, made with patented Summit Breeze® Technology, are triple-vented, ensuring workers stay cool and comfortable while wearing their PPE. During hot summer months, you'll be glad your FR clothing is equipped with three vents!

Here are quick links that will take you directly to specific types of MCR Safety FR clothes:

Workwear - MCR Safety offers a wide range of flame-resistant FR workwear. Our collection includes FR work shirts and FR Henleys; both provided in multiple color options. In addition, we specialize in providing the highest quality ripstop FR apparel available on the market.

Outerwear – The outer FRC shell is the first line of defense in keeping a worker safe, acting as a barrier against dangerous working conditions, weather, wind, and potential flames.

Triple-Vented FR Clothing – All of MCR Safety's FRC Summit Breeze® styles can be found here. Trust us; they are the best performing FR protection available on the market!

Triple venting directs harmful gases away from the wearer, an added benefit in protecting you from hazardous flames.

Click Here to Request a Quote!

FR Pants - Our PD2 FR jeans feature a comfortable 98% cotton and 2% spandex material that moves and stretches when you do. You're going to love the feel!

FR Balaclava - MCR Safety's balaclavas are engineered to keep the entire neck area covered and protected from biting wind and bitter cold, plus layering offers enhanced FR protection.

Click Here to Request a Quote!

Hi-Vis FR Clothing - True flame-resistance in rainwear was only a dream until recently. Now, workers don't have to choose between being seen and being protected from flames. Our hi-vis FR clothing line includes rainwear, coveralls, and safety vests.

FR Welding – To protect from burns, sparks, flames, and extreme heat, welders, need something that won't burn itself. They need flame-resistant personal protective equipment made of a durable fabric designed to protect against flames and other thermal hazards.

Check out our FR Online Catalog! There you'll find our entire lineup of flame-resistant (FR) clothing styles. Remember, wearing FRC that exceeds performance requirements for burn rate, fabrics, zippers, pockets, and buttons may be the difference between life and death.

Click Here to Request a Quote!

Common Questions

What does FR stand for?

For real… One more time, within the context of protection, FR stands for flame-resistant protection. FR clothing goes by the names FRC clothes, FR clothing, fire-resistant clothing, and fire-retardant clothing. Even though the "F" could refer to fire or flame, as these two terms are interchangeable, both "resistant" and "retardant" are referred to by the "R," but there is a difference between how each fabric is made.

What does FR mean in textiles?

You will commonly hear the words "inherent" and "treated" FR within the scope of flame-resistant clothing. A treated FR fabric is a flame-resistant fabric that has fire resistance built into the chemical structure of the material. With inherent fabrics, the FR performance comes from the natural properties of the materials themselves. You'll find both terms highlighted on our FR Fabrics page.

What to wear under FR coveralls?

Wearing base layers is standard practice across many industries. Be aware that the same FR principles apply to base layer protection, meaning those layers should not be made of a synthetic material that will ignite.

How long does FR clothing last?

Inherently flame-resistant fabrics are made with materials that are permanently resistant to combustion. These inherent FR properties will never wear out or wash out of the fabric.

What is Class 2 FR?

NFPA 70E's HRC 2 level is often referred to as a Class 2 arc rating that is greater than or equal to 8 cal/cm² but is less than 25 cal/cm².

How to wash FR clothing?

You'll want to check out the laundering section found in our FR Knowledge Center. Our washing PPE blog is also another helpful aid.

How many times can you wash FR clothing?

FR protection is engineered to withstand a lot of wear and tear, which means apparel can withstand several visits to the washer.

Are welding jackets FR rated?

Welding jackets made of leather are relatively resistant to ignition. Currently, are welding jackets are not FR rated. However, ff you need any item rated to a specific standard, please leave us a comment below.

Who sells FR clothing?

MCR Safety's FR clothing is supplied by distributors all over the world. You can leave us a comment, and we will let you know who sells FR clothing in your area.

Where to buy FR clothing near me?

Check out our blog on FR clothing near me.

What are OSHA requirements for FR shirts?

OSHA utilizes ANSI as the guiding performance ratings for all FR protection. For more on ANSI, click here.

Defining Resistant and the Meaning of FR

Before we wrap up this article, we want to summarize the core definitions used to describe FR clothing.

Resistant: a person or thing that resists. Capable of slowing or stopping the effect of a force or exhibiting resistance.

Flame-Resistant (FR) clothing: OSHA states that flame-resistant clothing "is a type of apparel that is made out of material that is meant to self-extinguish once the ignition source has been removed." If the garment can ignite and continue burning, then it is not FR.

FR clothing will self-extinguish, not continue to burn.

Example of flame-resistant used in a sentence: You're going to love wearing MCR Safety's flame-resistant triple-vented FR clothing!

Protection Done Right!

If there is one workplace hazard you never take chances with, it is fire. MCR Safety expanded our manufacturing of exemplary PPE with flame-resistant FR protection in 2014. Since then, we've continued elevating our FRC product offerings, applying unmatched patented technology.

We welcome any comments, feedback or suggestions for how we can best protect people at work.

For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it's on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, we are there providing solutions to workplace hazards. It's all part of our commitment to protect people.

No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.

Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.